Pop Warner Youth football has eliminated kickoffs from its youngest divisions of tackle football as a safety measure, the league announced Thursday an e-mail to media outlets.

“We are constantly working to make the game safer and better for your young athletes, and we think this move is an important step in that direction,”” said Jon Butler, the Pop Warner executive director. “Eliminating kickoffs at this level adds another level of safety without changing the nature of the game.””

Instead of kickoff off at the beginning of the game and at halftime and after scores, the ball will be placed at the 35-yard line where the offense will begin its possession.

The change will be implemented in the Tiny Mite (age 5-7), Mitey Mite (7-9) and Junior Pee Wee (8-10) divisions.

The league has also announced a reduction in contact time during practice from 33 percent of a practice session to 25 percent in all divisions.

As noted by Profootballtalk.com, the rule change eliminates the possibility of an onsides kick, which is a way that a team trailing in the score can come from behind.

A rule change suggested by former Rutgers and NFL coach Greg Schiano, in the event of eliminating kickoffs, would be for the kicking team to have an option to instead possess the ball at its own 30-yard line facing fourth down and 15 yards to go. The team could then punt or go for the first down.